Many hearts, one song; many hands, one church December 24, :45 p.m. Christmas Eve

Transcription

1 Many hearts, one song; many hands, one church December 24, :45 p.m. Christmas Eve Large-print bulletins and hearing devices are available from the ushers. Plymouth Congregational Church

2 Prelude CHORALE PRELUDE ON IN DULCI JUBILO Johann Sebastian Bach ( now sing we, now rejoice ) (BWV 729) Philip Brunelle, organist-choirmaster PRELUDE ON GREENSLEEVES Richard Purvis ( What child is this ) (1944) PRELUDE TO THE CHRISTMAS ORATORIO SWISS NOËL Camille Saint-Saëns arr. Arthur B. Jennings Louis Claude d Aquin ( ) HOW FAR IS IT TO BETHLEHEM? Sasha Johnson Manning Lisa Drew, soloist (2000) How far is it to Bethlehem? Not very far. Shall we find the stable room lit by a star? Can we see the little Child, is He within? If we lift the wooden latch may we go in? May we stroke the creatures there, ox, ass or sheep? May we peep like them, and see Jesus asleep? If we touch His tiny hand, will He awake? Will He know we ve come so far just for His sake? God in His mother s arms, babes in the byre, Sleep, as they sleep, who find their heart s desire. Poem by Frances Chesterton PRELUDE ON THE HOLLY AND THE IVY Herbert Sumsion (1955) CHORALE PRELUDE ON SILENT NIGHT Samuel Barber (1961) First sung on Christmas Eve, 1818, in the village church in Oberndorf, Upper Austria; the words were written by Joseph Mohr, the assistant priest. Franz Gruber, the acting organist, wrote the tune a few hours before the service accompanying himself on the guitar as the organ had broken down. Two hundred years later, we are still singing this beloved carol.

3 Opening Hymn (standing) o Come, All ye Faithful Adeste fideles Call to Worship 1. O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem; Come and behold him, born the King of angels; : O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord! 2. Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation, Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above; Glory to God in the highest! 3. Child, for us sinners, poor and in the manger, We would embrace Thee with love and awe: Who would not love Thee, loving us so dearly! 4. Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning. Jesus, to Thee be all glory given; Word of Creation, now in flesh appearing! Latin hymn, tr. Frederick Oakeley and others Leader: We give thanks for the light of hope unrelenting and inexplicable. Congregation: Our hope in Christ shines on. Leader: We give thanks for the light of peace strong and unafraid. Congregation: The peace of Christ lights our way. Leader: We give thanks for the light of joy persistent and unpredictable. Congregation: The joy of Christ brightens our lives. Leader: We give thanks for the light of love transformative and holy. Congregation: The love of Christ comforts and challenges. Leader: Now let us light the Christ candle as we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Congregation: Thank you, God, for your light in this world through Jesus Christ. The Christ Candle is lit. Leader: The light shines in the darkness. Congregation: And the darkness has not overcome it. Seth Patterson

4 Unison Prayer Hushed be our hearts, O God, by the wonder of this night. Make us wise with the wisdom of a little one, so that once again the highest truth might be born afresh in our beings. Let not our lives be busy inns that have no room, but throw wide open the doors of our hearts to welcome such a Holy Guest. Amid dirt and straw, amid noise of cattle and labor of birth, we perceive that you are at work bringing peace and healing to a world in need. Glory be to you, now and forever. Words of Welcome A SERVICE OF LESSONS AND CAROLS The prophecy Reading Isaiah 9:2, 6 7; 40:1 5 Katherine Ferrand Hymn (seated) once in Royal David s city Irby Solo: Choir: 1. Once in royal David s city 2. He came down to earth from heaven Stood a lowly cattle shed, Who is God and Lord of all, Where a Mother laid her baby And his shelter was a stable, In a manger for his bed; And his cradle was a stall; Mary was that Mother mild, With the poor and mean and lowly, Jesus Christ her little Child. Lived on earth our Savior holy. All: All: 3. For he is our childhood pattern: 4. And our eyes at last shall see him Day by day like us he grew; Through his own redeeming love, He was little, weak, and helpless; For that Child so dear and gentle Tears and smiles like us he knew; Is our Lord in heaven above; And he feeleth for our sadness, And he leads his children on And he shareth in our gladness. To the place where he has gone. Cecil Frances Alexander, Carol THE SHEPHERD S CAROL Bob Chilcott Jenny French, soprano, and Choir (2000) We stood on the hills, Lady, The evening was calm, Lady, Our day s work done, The air so still, Watching the frosted meadows Silence more lovely than music That winter had won. Folded the hill.

5 There was a star, Lady, Shone in the night, Larger than Venus it was And bright, so bright. And so we have come, Lady, Our day s work done, Our love, our hopes, ourselves We give to your son. Anonymous Oh, a voice from the sky, Lady, It seemed to us then Telling of God being born In the world of men. The birth Reading Luke 2:1 7 Gingie Ward Carol IN BETHLEHEM TONIGHT Jocelyn Hagen world premiere Maria Jette, soprano; Lisa Drew, alto; and Choir This carol was commissioned in celebration of Carolyn Brunelle s 50th year as a member of the Plymouth Choir. There stands a church in Bethlehem today, Built where the baby in the manger lay, Where Mary touched and kissed his little face: A place of pilgrimage, a holy place. O holy Jesus, Everlasting Light, Let there be peace in Bethlehem tonight. And once, in better times, I travelled there, Watched children run around in Manger Square, Then went into the church s crypt and stood Before the birthplace of the Son of God. O holy Jesus, Everlasting Light, Let there be peace in Bethlehem tonight. Now, in the little town where Christ was born, Young men and children die, and mothers mourn. Wise men have not brought peace to Manger Square. O hear us as we offer up this prayer: O holy Jesus, Everlasting Light, Let there be peace in Bethlehem tonight. Wendy Cope, from Christmas Poems, 2017

6 Carol (standing) ON CHRISTMAS NIGHT Sussex Carol (see facing page) The Shepherds and the Angels Reading Luke 2:8 20 Ellie Faeth Anthem GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO Hyo-won Woo Maria Jette, soprano; Dan Dressen, tenor; and Choir (2002) God omnipotent, Jesus Christ, Lamb of God. Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to all of good will. We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, We give thanks to you for your great glory! Carol (standing) the first nowell The First Nowell All: 1. The first Nowell the angel did say, Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay, In fields where they lay, keeping their sheep, On a cold winter s night that was so deep: : Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Born is the King of Israel! Sopranos and altos: Tenors and basses: 2. They lookèd up and saw a star, 3. And by the light of that same star, Shining in the east, beyond them far; Three Wise Men came from country far, And to the earth it gave great light, To seek a king was their intent, And so it continued both day and night: And to follow the star wherever it went: All: Choir: 4. This star drew nigh to the northwest; 5. Then did they know assuredly O er Bethlehem it took its rest. Within that house the King did lie: And there it did both stop and stay One entered in them for to see, Right over the place where Jesus lay: And found the babe in poverty: Tenors and basses: Sopranos and altos: 6. Then entered in those Wise Men three, 7. Then let us all with one accord Full reverently upon their knee Sing praises to our heavenly Lord, And offered there in his presence That hath made heav n and earth of nought, Their gold and myrrh and frankincense: And with his death true life hath bought: continued

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8 All: 8. So now we shall rejoice and sing, And let the heav nly anthems ring: For God hath preparèd for us all A resting place in general: W. Sandys, Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern The coming of the magi Reading Matthew 2:1 12 John Kulstad An offering will be taken at this time. Our Christmas Offering this year will be shared between Groveland Emergency Food Shelf, which feeds our hungry neighbors and is located in our lower level, and Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative, which Plymouth Church helped to found. Beacon congregations put their faith in action through service and by working for justice. They shelter families without a home, while creating new homes and changing policies to make our community more just. Offertory What is this lovely fragrance? French carol James Bohn, bass, and Choir arr. Healey Willan This year marks the 50th anniversary of the death of Canada s most renowned (1940) choral and organ composer, Healey Willan. What is this lovely fragrance wafting What is this light so fair, so tender Like to the scent of flowers in spring? Breaking upon our wondering eyes? Shepherds, O tell us, whence such beauty, Never the Morning Star so radiant Hear you not heavenly caroling? Followed his course o er eastern skies. Shepherds, O haste with eager footsteps. Seek the Savior born today. Low at His feet we lay our treasure, Heart s adoration, love for aye. 17th century French carol from Lorraine; translated by Ysobel The Christmas Prayer Beth A. Faeth Hymn (seated) O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM St. Louis (see facing page) Phillips Brooks, one of America s great preachers in the 1800s, wrote a hymn for children to sing during the annual program. He gave the words to organist Lewis Redner and asked him to write a new tune. Redner struggled until finally, on the night before the Christmas program, he awoke with the melody and jotted it down; the next day, the six teachers and thirty-six children sang O Little Town of Bethlehem. That was 150 years ago.

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10 Christmas Meditation we re expecting! Paula Northwood The promise Reading John 1:1 8, 14 The Congregation In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Word was in the beginning with God; all things were made through it, and without it was not anything made that was made. In the Word was life, and the life was the light of all. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came for testimony to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light but came to bear witness to the light. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth. During Silent Night, ushers will light the candles of worshipers who are sitting nearest the aisles. The light is then passed from candle to candle, down each pew. Please take care that in passing the light, wax does not spill on pew cushions or clothing. (When lighting, tip the unlit candle to meet the lit candle. Do not tip the lit candle.) Hymn (seated) silent night Stille Nacht 1. Silent night! Holy night! 2. Silent night! Holy night! All is calm, all is bright Shepherds quake at the sight! Round yon virgin mother and child! Glories stream from heaven afar, Holy infant, so tender and mild, Heav nly hosts sing Alleluia! Sleep in heavenly peace. Christ, the Savior, is born! Sleep in heavenly peace. Christ, the Savior, is born! 3. Silent night! Holy night! Son of God, love s pure light Radiant beams from thy holy face, With the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord, at thy birth. Jesus, Lord, at thy birth. Benediction Hymn (standing) joy to the world Antioch All: 1. Joy to the world! the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; Let ev ry heart prepare him room, And heaven and nature sing.

11 Sopranos and altos: 2. Joy to the earth! the Savior reigns! Let all their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains Repeat the sounding joy. Tenors and basses: 3. No more let sin and sorrow grow Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make his blessings flow Far as the curse is found. All: 4. He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of his righteousness, And wonders of his love. Isaac Watts, alt. Postlude FUGUE ON VOM HIMMEL HOCH Johann Sebastian Bach ( From heaven high to earth I come ) ( ) Candles may be taken home or left in baskets at the exits. Please do not leave candles in the pews. On Dec. 30, our one service takes place at 10 o clock. This special worship service features carols and meditations by Doug Hoverson, Judy Takkunen and Joe Weismann. The Plymouth Choir will sing. The Poinsettias are given in loving memory of family and friends. If You Have Pastoral Needs over the holiday, please contact the on-call minister by dialing 612/ and pressing 7 at the prompt. On the Cover: Mother and Child by J. Kirk Richards; printed with permission of the artist (see his work at Parents and Families of Our Children: Thank you for bringing your children to church. If you need a place to go with a restless or hungry child, the Parsons Room (next to the library) is available. You and your children can hear the service from there.

12 Special 50th Anniversary Concerts Mark your calendars and invite your friends! Plymouth members and friends have a very special treat in store! As part of our celebration of Philip Brunelle s 50th year at Plymouth, he has reached out to two longtime colleagues, both world-class musical artists, to give free concerts in our Sanctuary. Thursday, Jan. 31, at 7:30 p.m., pianist ANGELA HEWITT will play an all-bach program. Months ago, Philip began receiving phone calls inquiring when tickets would be offered for sale. When he replied, No tickets the concert will be free, there was stunned silence... then the question, What time will the doors open?! [About 6:30 p.m.] Please note that Plymouth s Steinway grand piano will be moved up to the Chancel for this performance. Sunday Feb 10 at 4:00 p.m., DANIEL ROTH, the renowned organist of St. Sulpice, Paris, will give a concert on our Plymouth organ. The organ will be brought forward on the Chancel as it was for Philip s September recital, so audience members may see the organist s hands and feet. We hope you ll invite friends, family members and other music lovers especially those not familiar with Plymouth to attend one or both of these exciting events. Let s bring in new people to experience our beautiful church and learn about the rich array of activities and opportunities to connect that Plymouth offers. Carol Brandenburg, Member of the 50th Anniversary Planning Committee and Plymouth Growth Task Force Paula Northwood, Acting Senior Minister Beth A. Faeth, Minister for Congregational Care and Worship Seth Patterson, Director of Spiritual Formation and Theater Daniel Wolpert, Interim Minister Philip Brunelle, Organist and Choirmaster Sonja Thompson, Music Associate Laura Caviani and George Maurer, First Service Music Directors Plymouth Congregational Church 1900 Nicollet Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota / churchinfo@plymouth.org